ELIZABETH — Four men suspected of stealing valuable car parts from an auto salvage shop in Elizabeth exchanged gunfire with city police along Routes 1&9 at the start of this afternoon's rush hour before they were taken into custody after their stolen truck collided with a police cruiser, authorities said.

The dramatic string of events began around 3 p.m., police said, when the men, armed with automatic weapons and handguns, burst into Bayway Scrap Metal on Amboy Avenue in Elizabeth, tied up several employees in a back room and drove off with a U-Haul truck loaded with catalytic converters, anti-pollution devices made with precious metals, Deputy Police Chief John Brennan said.

Police were alerted to the robbery within minutes and quickly spotted the U-Haul on Routes 1&9 North, he said.

The driver of the truck tried to elude police, weaving through streets to try to evade the pursuing officers. During the chase, the suspects fired on the police car and an officer returned fire, Brennan said.

The truck and a police car collided on North Avenue, between Routes 1&9 and Dowd Avenue, and the truck’s occupants scattered on foot but were quickly apprehended, Brennan said. Police recovered an automatic rifle, a submachine gun and three handguns, as well as a bag full of money, he said.

No one was hit by gunfire, Brennan said.

Investigators did not immediately identify the suspects.

Three employees of Bayway Scrap Metal were taken to a local hospital for minor injuries and two unidentified police officers involved in the shooting were also taken to the hospital as a precaution, Brennan said.

About 2 1/2 hours later, police also seized a pickup truck at the Mravlag Manor public housing complex they believe is connected to the robbery. Police, though, don’t specifically know yet how the vehicle was used in the armed robbery, Brennan said.

A New Jersey State police helicopter assisted with the search, Brennan said.
Most of the action took place in front of the Elizabeth Truck Center on North Avenue, where employees were on lockdown during the police activity.

Alex Elizondo, 10, said he was in the truck center along with some adults this afternoon when police rushed in and told them to stay put. While inside, they watched security footage showing police grab at least one man from under a trailer behind the truck center.

“They were all hiding under the trailer,” Alex said.

Yellow police tape stretched across the road where weapons were strewn as police continued their investigation.